Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane has recently revealed how a phone call from India batting legend Rahul Dravid helped him deal with all the obstacles, both on the field and physiological on the recent Australia tour.
Rahane has recently captained Team India to a historic Test series win 2-1 in Australia to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a young team in which a number of players were coached by Dravid at age-group and domestic level cricket (India U-19 and India A).
After Virat Kohli’s departure following the morale-crushing Adelaide Test defeat, Rahane put all things together and boost energy in the team with his calm influence while leading the side from the front to make comeback in the four-Test series with an 8-wicket defeat in the second Test in Melbourne.
Later, Team India pulled off a memorable draw in the third Test in Sydney and breached Australia’s fortress The Gabba to record a glorious 2-1 Test series win on Down Under.
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Well, before the Indian squad left for Australia from Dubai, Rahane got a very precious phone call from the Indian batting legend Dravid and his words of wisdom really helped the stand-in captain on the tour.
The Test vice-captain revealed that Dravid asked him to just be strong mentally and not to think about anything including captaincy task and results. He also asked him “not bat a lot” in the net sessions and that really helped in the recent Australia Test series.
Rahane told Harsha Bhogle in an interaction: “Rahul Bhai actually called me before the series, when we were leaving to Australia from Dubai. He said, 'Don't take any stress, I know you are leading the team after the first Test. Don't worry about anything, just be strong mentally.”
He added, “Don't bat a lot in the nets', [which is], unlike Rahul Bhai. Rahul Bhai loves batting, and he was like 'that's the mistake I did'. He said, 'Don't bat a lot in the nets, your preparation is really good, you're batting so well. So, don't take any pressure. Just think about how you are going to lead the team, how you are going to give confidence to the players. Don't worry about the result, it will take care of itself'.”
The right-hander signed off by saying, “That conversation really made it easy, Rahul Bhai telling me to not bat a lot in the nets. It was really good.”
(With India TV Inputs)
